Battles put the fun into noisy, complex, electronic rock. But it may send you insane.
Four years ago Battles took math-rock precision to new lengths with their debut album Mirrored. They achieved mainstream success when their single Atlas was featured in numerous TV soundtracks.
Now a trio after the departure of their vocalist/guitarist/provider of “found” noises Tyondai Braxton, they’ve filled his vacancy with a scattering of guest vocalists.
Despite competition from synth legend Gary Numan, who brings an interesting dusting of doom to My Machines, and Japanese punk icon Yamantaka Eye, who’s given free reign to wail at the gods in Sundome, it’s Chilean artist Matias Aguayo in Ice Cream who shines. It is a bubblegum explosion of squeezebox funk, the bands intricate rock patterns and lyrics that sound like a mix of French and Klingon.
While some of the relentless energy of Mirrored and the EPs that preceded it has been lost in the bands instrumentals, it’s been replaced with a bigger sense of genre defying mischief: Wall Street combines calypso, heavy metal and space jazz.
Baffling and bonkers, Battles remain masters of difficult listening.
Album Review by Johnny Dee